Web handling apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

Web handling apparatus includes a web clamp for preventing incapacitating adhesive accumulation thereon. The clamp has heated fingers mounting on a reciprocating plate. The fingers are mounted about an aperture and have ends generally defining the shape of labels carried within the web. When the plate is reciprocated toward the web, the fingers engage the web to clamp it against a supporting surface so that the labels can be removed. The fingers engage the web on a side to which adhesive has been applied and should the heated fingers contact the adhesive, they resist accumulation of adhesive thereon.

United States Patent 11 1 Jeffries Apr. 29, 1975 154] WEB HANDLINGAPPARATUS AND 3.650.866 3/1972 Prentice 156/167 METHOD 3.661.625 5/1972La MCIS 161/109 3.783.073 1/1974 Wamberg 156/282 Inventor: Dale.Ieffries, Santa Monica, Calif.

Assignee: R. A. Jones and Company Incorporated, Covington, Ky.

Filed: Dec. 18, 1972 Appl. N6; 315,854

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.538.520 1/1951 Holt. Jr. etal..... Q. 156/320 2.988.967 6/1961 Dudnick et a1. 3.038.982 6/1962Ludlow 156/518 l56/DIG. 36

3.434.902 3/1969 Bliss 156/583 Primary Examiner-Charles E. Van HornAssistant E.\'aminerM. G. Wityshyn Attorney, Agent, or FirmWood, Herron& Evans 57 ABSTRACT Web handling apparatus includes a web clamp forpreventing incapacitating adhesive accumulation thereon. The clamp hasheated fingers mounting on a reciprocating plate. The fingers aremounted about an aperture and have ends generally defining the shape oflabels carried within the web. When the plate is reciprocated toward theweb, the fingers engage the web to clamp it against a supporting surfaceso that the labels can be removed. The fingers engage the web on a sideto which adhesive has been applied and should the heated fingers contactthe adhesive, they resist accumulation of adhesive thereon.

20 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures WEB HANDLING APPARATUS AND METHOD Thisinvention relates to label applying apparatus and more particularly toapparatus for clamping a labelsupporting web during detachment of alabel therefrom.

Reference is herewith made to the commonly owned. copending. US. Pat.application of Eric W. Scarpa. Ser. No. 320.859. entitled Loop FormingApparatus filed Jan. 4. 1973. which claims subject matter disclosed butnot claimed in this application.

It is known to provide a high-speed labeling apparatus utilizing aprepared label supply comprising a web remnant supporting partiallyprecut labels therein. Such a labeling apparatus and prepared supply aredisclosed in US. Pat. No. 3.661.625. In that apparatus. the label web ismoved intermittently through an adhesive station where an adhesive isestablished on the label. From that station. the web is intermittentlymoved to a detaching and applying station where a reciprocating plungeris actuated to pass through an aperture in a frame and to engage thelabel web. detach the partially precut label therefrom, and apply it toa target. During the intermittent detaching operation, a clamp isactuated to engage the reverse or adhesive side of the label web and tohold the web stationary against the frame while the label is detached.Such a clamp is specifically shown in FIG. 14 of the cited patent inconknown in connection with the apparatus disclosed in the patent. thata similar clamp in the shape of a label can be used without the cuttingapparatus and in conjunction with partially precut labels to clamp theweb while a partially precut label is detached by the plunger.

Where the appearance of the labeled product is not particularly crucial.the clamping apparatus such a described above is satisfactory. It isbecoming. however.. increasingly important to apply labels to productssuch that the resulting package is commercially presentable from anaesthetic view point. Specifically. it is becoming increasinglydesirable to supply apparatus capable of applying adhesive to theextreme edges of a label so that all edge portions of a label arepositively adhered to the product and no loose edges exist to detractfrom the product's appearance.

In the apparatus disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3.66l.625. the clampcomprises a frame in the general shape of a label to be applied. Thisclamp frame engages the adhesive side of the label web and holds itstationary against a backing member of the apparatus just as the plungeris reciprocated through the web from the other side.

For a quality separation of the label from its supporting web, the clamputilized with precut labels in the apparatus of US. Pat. No. 3.661.625normally contacts the web very near'the label to be removed. Whereadhesive is applied to the label's extreme edges. it invariably contactsthe clamp and. over a period of operation. accumulates on the clamp andfouls it as well as other portions of the apparatus. Among other things,this fouling is caused by stringing wherein strings of adhesive from thelabels adhere to the clamp and are pulled by the web in randomdirections over the apparatus. This situation is aggravated where theadhesive pattern overlaps the label onto the supporting web in an effortto insure extreme edge adhesion or overlaps as a result ofa registryerror of the glue pattern with the label.

The situation is further aggravated by the slight flapping of the labelweb. a phenomenon due to its high speed. The flapping web occasionallycontacts the clamp prior to its positive engagement with the webaccording to the timed cycle. Premature contact of the clamp with theweb and resulting contact with the adhesive thereon leads to furtherundesired transfer of glue.

These factors lead. over a period of operation, to an excessiveaccumulation of adhesive on the clamp and other elements of theapparatus. This requires mandatory stoppage and clean-up and renders thewhole labeling operation less than efficient. Also. the previousapparatus requires a relatively high degree of preciseness in theadhesive applying operation in order to avoid the adhesive pattern-labelregistry error and excessive overlapping problems.

It has thus been one objective of the invention to provide a clampingapparatus for labeling mechanism wherein that portion of the clampingapparatus which contacts the web is heated to prevent an excessiveadhesive accumulation on the clamp.

It has been a further object of the invention to provide a clampingapparatus for a labeling mechanism wherein the clamping apparatusincludes a means for preventing substantial adhesive accumulation on theclamp and to thereby provide for extreme edge adhesion of a label to aproduct by enabling the application of overlapping or continuous gluepatterns on a label supporting web.

A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a i clamp comprising aplurality of fingers having heated tips or ends and extending generallytoward each other to define the general outline of the label. Thefingers are mounted on a reciprocating plate and are moved toward andaway from a label supporting web to clamp 'andrelease the web in propersequence. The finger tips are heated to a temperature range similar tothat at which a hot melt adhesive is applied to the labels. The adhesivewill not build up on the heated fingers despite finger tip contact withthe adhesive on the label web.

In the preferred embodiment. the finger tips are serially connected to asource of electrical current and the tip portions are of very smallcross-section. The corresponding high electrical resistance of the tipscauses a heat build up at the tip as a result of the application of theelectrical current.

Since these concepts have effectively solved the problem of excessivetramp adhesive accumulation on the clamping apparatus. it is possible toinsure extreme edge adhesion by utilizing a sequential adhesive patternoverlapping the labels onto the web or by utilizing a continuous gluepattern on the label web. Both the sequential and continuous patternsmay be applied by a continuous adhesive applicator and expense isreduced since great registry precision is not required.

When a continuous adhesive applicator is combined with an intermittentlabel detaching station. it has been found that in going from acontinuous motion to an intermittent motion. and especially at highspeed. the

. web experienced a phenomenon known as web shock. This shock in somecases was severe enough to prematurely separate the precut labels fromthe web. a highly undesirable characteristic.

. To solve this problem. a loop is formed in the web between theadhesive applying station and the label detacliing station. To createthis loop. a flexible sheet in the form ofan endless band is providedbetween the continuous adhesive stationand the intermittent detachingstation. Pressure air is applied. from a position within the areaencircledby thesheet. against the sheet to urge it into contact with thelabel web and to form the loop. The sheet contacts the web throughout arelatively large area and prevents the pressure air from directlycontacting the web and blowing out or prematurely separating the labels.

The invention thus provides a means for preventing excessive adhesiveaccululation on a web clamping apparatus, thereby enabling sequentialoverlapping or continuous glue patterns to be applied in a continuousmanner on the web.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomereadily apparent from the following detailed description and thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of the label applyingapparatusaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus;

FIG. v3. is afront view of a web clamp;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 :is a plan view of a label web' with a remnant completelysurrounding each label;

FIG. 6 is a planview of a label web having contiguous labels;

FIG. 7 is a view of an alternate web having a modified adhesive pattern;and

FIG. 8 is a view of a clamp for use with the web of FIG. 7.

Now referring specifically to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows at 10 adiagrammatic view of a label applying apparatus. A clamping mechanism isshown at 11, and the loop forming apparatus is shown at 1 2. An adhesiveap- I plicator is shown at 13. The clamping apparatus is specificallyshown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. It includes a clamping plate whichisconstructed of an insulative material. The clamping plate 20 is providedwith an aperture 21 which corresponds generally to the shape of a labelL which is defined in FIGS. 2 and 3 by phantom lines 22. The aperture21, in addition to having the general shape of the label L, is slightlylarger than the label in order to provide space for inwardly extendingweb engaging membersas will be described.

The label engaging members of the clamp comprise fingers 23 each havinga label engaging tip or end 24.

The fingers 23 are formed from a single electrically conductive member25. The electrically conductive member 25 is shown in dotted lines inFIG. 3 and is attached to the clamping plate 20 by any suitable means.The fingers 23 are of small cross-sectional area and the conductiveportions between the fingers are of large cross-sectional area.

Electrical conductors 26 and 27 are connected to the respective ends ofthe member 25 at terminals 28 and 29. The conductors 26 and 27 areconnected to a source of electrical current and, when the source isactivated, an electrical current is passed through the conductive member25. Since the conductive member 25 comprises portions of fairly largecross-section. the resistance therein is relatively small. Due to therelatively small cross-section of the finger tips24 and theresultingrelatively high resistance. however, electrical current passing throughthe fingers from one large portion r of the member 25 to another causesthetips: 24 and the fingers to become relatively hot. Theelectricalcurrent 4 is controlled to heat the finger tips to theapproximate temper'atu'" range at which adhesive is applied to the labelweb as will be discussed.

As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. the fingers 23 extend from theconductive member 25 beyond the aperture 21 in the clamping plate 20such that the tips 24 of the fingers generally define the outline of alabel L within aperture 21. The tips 24 of the fingers 23 may define apattern slightly larger than the outline of the actual label edge inorder to accommodate slight misalignment of the label as it reaches thedetaching station.

The clamping plate 20 is mounted on reciprocating rods 30 and may beheld there by way of the nuts 31. The rods 30 are reciprocated in atimed relationship to draw, as shown in FIG. 4, the tips 24 of thefingers 23 into contact with the label web. in the clamping position.the finger tips 24 pinch or clamp the label web against the stationaryframe 32 of the apparatus. The frame 32 has an aperture 33 whichsubstantially corresponds to the general outline of the label.

For the purpose of plunging through the label web and attaching a labeltherefrom. a plunger 35 is provided. The plunger has a face or nose 36which corresponds in shape generally tothat of a label. As shown in FIG.1, the plunger reciprocates. in a direction as indicated by the doublearrow A. to plunge through the label web. detach a label. and apply itto a target T, such as a bottle or other article of merchandise. Theplunger and clamp are timed in their operations so that the clampengages and holds the web just prior to plunger engagement with a label;

The loop forming apparatus as shown generally at 12 includes a pressureair tube 40 which is connected to a source of pressure air. The tube 40has-a number of apertures 41 which are directed generally downwardly asshown in FIG. 1. A flexible sheet or screen 42 is provided about a tube40 and adjacent the path ofthe label web. In the preferred embodiment.the sheet has its ends connected together and to the frame of theapparatus. as at 43, so that the sheet. in effect; forms an endless bandencircling or surrounding the pressure air tube 40. Of course. the sheetcan be utilized effectively in forms or positions other than an endlessband. In the preferred endless band form, the flexible sheet does nothave a loose free end to cause problems shouldthe web break. Evenwithout the presence of a web; th'e' sheet remains in a generallycircular or oblong disposition and a web can be threaded through theapparatus and over the sheet very expediently.

The label web extends from the adhesive applying apparatus l3downwardly, forwardly. and then upwardly toward the label detachingstation and clamping mechanism. When air pressure is supplied throughthe tube 40 and escapes through apertures 41, it impinges on theflexible sheet 42. and urges the sheet downwardly and into engagementwith the label web thereby forming a loop 44 in the label web. The forceprovided by the blowing of pressure air is constant and is sufficient toform a loop in the sheet but is light enough'so that the 'loopisresilient to flex up and down and accommodate fluctuations in webtension along the loop. These flucmittent motion of the clamp andplunger on the other "side of the loop.

The flexible sheet 42 isnormally somewhat wider than the web so that nopressure air directly engages the web. While the web width may approachthat of the a vertical position behind or. in other words. to the leftof the sheet 42as shown in FIG. 1. in order to control the horizontalextension of the loop. Guide members could be placed at any positionabout the sheet 42 in order to provide any desired shape in theoperating loop 44. ln addition to shaping the loop. the guides in somepositions tend to urge the loop directly against the web. The loopforming force thus can be a combination of the flexible sheets naturalresilience and the blowing of air directly onto the sheet.

The adhesive applying apparatus is shown at 13 and is operative toestablish a tacky surface to at least the labels within the web. Whilethe terms tacky surface. hot melt adhesive. or glue are herein utilizedfor descriptive purposes. either term means. but is not limited to. anysuitable hot melt adhesive of the type which is heated and then appliedto a material. In addition. the terms are considered to includethermo-activated adhesive. thermoplastic or other material which can beapplied to a web and activated by heat. Also. the term includes anyadhesive having the characteristic of not sticking to or accumulating ona heated element.

The applying apparatus comprises a glue wheel having a generalcylindrical surface 51 and glue holding depressions 52. The glue wheel50 is disposed above the glue pot 53 such that a portion of the wheelextends below the level 54 of the glue. The glue pot is provided with ameans for heating the glue therein to a temperature at which it can bereadily applied to the label web. This temperature may be in the rangeof 300 340F or may vary according to the specific adhesive utilized.

As the wheel 50 is rotated in the direction of the arrow B. it isimmersed in the glue and some of the glue is picked up by the wheel.Prior to the wheels engagement with the label web. however. the glue onthe cylindrical surface 51 is scraped therefrom by a scraper as at 55 sothat when the wheel 50 engages the web. no

glue resides on the outermost cylindrical surface 51 but glue doesremain in the depressions 52. The glue wheel is constructed so that thedepressions 52 are. if desired. formed in the same shape or slightlylarger than the labels L. in addition. the depressions are spaced on theglue wheel 50 so that they correspond to the sequential spacing of thelabels L in the label web. in this manner as the label web is drawn pastthe glue wheel 50. the depressions therein serve to establish anadhesive on the labels within the web.

While many types of label webs may be utilized. two of the preferredtypes of label webs are illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 shows oneform of label web having a web remnant 61 which defines labels L. Itwill be noted that the web remnant 61 extends about and surrounds eachof the labels L so that the labels do not contact each other. Labels aresupported within the web by nicks or bridges of web material whichremain after the web is partially precut to form the labels. These nicksare normally very small and offer a minimal support to the labels. Thisresults in a fragile web subject to labelseparation in the event of webshock.

The illustration in H6. 5 further shows a sequential or web-overlappingglue pattern 62. This glue pattern is shown complete on two of thelabels which are attached to the web at the left of FIG. 5. The aperture63 indicates that area from where a label L has been removed. and itwill be noted that the glue pattern 62 has overlapped the label andresides partially on the web. It can thus be appreciated that glue isapplied to the extreme edges of the labels L and. in fact. overlappedthose edges onto the web remnant.

In FIG. 6. a modified label web is illustrated. This web comprises a webremnant 71 which extends along the opposite edges of labels Ll. In thisweb. it can be seen that the labels are contiguous or, in other words.are connected to each other at their ends so that each label is notcompletely surrounded by a web remnant. The labels are supported in theweb and are attached to each other by nicks as described in thedescription of the web of FIG. 5. The aperture 72 indicates that area ofthe web from which the labels have been removed at the detaching stationof the apparatus.

The glue pattern as shown in FIG. 6 is a continuous one. and it is seenin FIG. 6 that the pattern extends all over the web. having been appliedto both the labels within the web and to the web remnant. In order toattain such a glue pattern. a glue wheel with a continuous cylindricalsurface could be utilized so that the pattern is a continuous one.rather than the intermittent pattern 62 which is attained by the gluewheel 50 as shown in FIG. 1.

lt should be noted that whether the glue pattern established on thelabel web is a sequential one as shown in FIG. 5 or is a continuous oneas shown in H6. 6, the movement of the label web through the adhesiveestablishing station 13 is a continuous movement. It will also beappreciated that for either type of pattern to be applied. the adhesiveextends beyond the label and onto the supporting web. The depressions 52in the glue wheel 50 do not have to be so precisely made as to print aglue pattern to the very edge of the label with a very small toleranceof error allowed. but rather, in fact. the depression 52 can beconstructed larger than the actual label to insure extreme edgeapplication of adhesive. in this manner, the apparatus can efficientlyfunction even with some error in the registry of the glue patterns withthe label.

OPERATlON In FIG. 1. the label web is withdrawn from a label supply andtravels in the direction indicated by the arrow C. Like designatedarrows illustrate the direction of label web travel throughout thedrawings.

The label web is drawn through the adhesive establishing station asindicated at 13. in a continuous manner. the glue wheel 50 establishes atacky surface of adhesive on labels L within the label web. The web thencontinues from the glue wheel downwardly and is urged into a loop byvirtue of the pressure applied to the web by the flexible sheet 42. Thesheet is formed into a loop by the application of the pressure airthrough the pressure air tube 40 and apertures 41.

It will be noted that the pressure air impinges only on the sheet 42 andnot directly on the label web. It has been found that when the sheet 42is omitted and pressure air is. applied directly to the label web. theair has a tendency to blow the partially precut labels out of the web,breaking its supporting nicks and fouling the subsequent operation ofthe apparatus. This results in machine down" time and in unlabeledproducts.

Utilization of the sheet 42 provides for a constant uniform applicationof pressure to the complete web to form the loop 44 and, therefore.solves this problem. In

addition. the sheet 42 forms a smooth surface to support the web in agenerally continuous loop or curve. This is especially advantageous withwebs carrying relatively large labels or in webs where portions of thelabels edge define straight lines generally transverse to the web. Ifair is applied directly to such webs. the webs tend to bend along theseedges thereby causing the nicks to break and the labels to separate fromthe web. This bending and nick breakage results from the fact that.aside from the web remnant. the only material resisting the bendingacross the web is in the label supporting nicks.

Also. this structure has an advantage over a vacuum" system as describedin US. Pat. No. 3.661.625 since the web is never directly acted upon bythe pressure air. In the vacuum system. the web could be drawn againstthe aperture plate by the vacuum. and if the damper was misadjusted orfouled. the web could be torn.

From the loop forming area. the web then continues upwardly toward thedetaching station and the clamping mechanism as indicated at 11 inFIG. 1. When a given label reaches the exact detaching station. theclamp plate 20 is actuated to move toward the label web and the frame 32so that the finger tips 24 engage the label web in areas just adjacentto and surround the label L. The fingers press against the web and clampit againstthe frame 32 to hold it there for the subsequent detachingoperation.

At this time, the reciprocating plunger 35 is actuated to plunge throughthe web. detach a label from the web and apply it to the target. theadhesive on the label serving to bond the label to the target. Theplunger and clamp are then withdrawn freeing the web remnant which isthen indexed in the direction of arrow C.

It will be appreciated that in the preferred embodiment. the web motionthrough the adhesive station is a continuous motion. while the motion ofthe web through the clamping and detaching station is an intermittentmotion. The forming of the loop 44 and its resiliency due to the natureof the pressure air provides enough resiliency in the web to accommodatetension along the loop and aids in the reduction of web shock. Thisserves to reduce detachment of labels due to this shock alone. Ofcourse. the adhesive applying station could be adapted to intermittentweb motion as shown in the previously mentioned patent. In this case,the loop forming apparatus could be utilized to reduce the web shock dueto web inertia or slight timing errors between the adhesive station andthe detaching station.

Throughout the detaching and clamping operations. an electrical currentis supplied to the fingers 23 and the finger tips 24. This electricalcurrent. as previously described causes the tips 24 of the fingers toheat to a temperature range of 300 to 340+F which is similar to that atwhich adhesive is applied. While a relatively small amount of the hotmelt adhesive will accumulate on the finger tips 24, it will not buildup in any substantial amount. and the problem of excessive accumulationof tramp adhesive in this area is thereby eliminated. Any small amountof adhesive which does accumulate on the finger tips is maintained at atemperature sufficient to prevent any other adhesive coming into contactwith the fingers from sticking thereto and Tstringing" between the webremnant and the clamp.

It can be seen in FIG. 4. that the fingers 23 are bent inwardly towardthe web so as to engage the web and clamp it against the frame member 32without requiring the upper or lower portions of the plate 20 to bepressed directly against the web. Thus. the only portion of the clampingapparatus which engages the web are the heated finger tips 24.

FIGS. 7 and 8 depict an alternate embodiment of the clamping mechanism.This embodiment is particularly useful where it is not required to applyadhesive to the extreme edge of the label. Many label products do notrequire this degree of quality and. as shown in FIG. 7, a glue patternsuch as the one shown at 80 is applied to a label 81 within the web 82.There is still the possibility ofa mis-registry between the glue patternand the label, however. and the web flapping problem remains. Thus, asshown in FIG. 8. it is desirable to use heated finger tips in thoseareas most likely to contact or acquire an adhesive accumulation. Inthis embodiment. clamp fingers 83 are thus, as shown in FIG. 8. toengage the web remnant near the glue patterns on the labels. Theremainder of the clamp comprises merely a solid. unheated. clamp member84. Of course. any-type of glue pattern and configuration of clampingfingers could be utilized. and the illustrations in FIGS. 7 and 8 are byway of example only to indicate that heated clamp elements are onlyneeded in those areas where there is a possibility of engaging oraccumulating adhesive. In other areas where this possibility does notexist. it is sufficient to provide a non-heated clamping ele- 'ment suchas the one shown at 84.

The invention. thus. provides an improved apparatus for applying labelsto products and eliminates the heretofore troublesome problem ofexcessive tramp adhesive accumulation in the clamping mechanism and inother areas of the apparatus. The clamping mechanism of the inventionhas enabled the use of a variety of web overlapping adhesive patterns onprepared label webs, thereby efficiently attaining extreme edge adhesionof labels to products.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed. other modifications and alterations will become readilyobvious to one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from thescope of the invention. and applicant intends to be bound only by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for applying labels of varying shapes and sizes from aprepared label supply to a product wherein the label supply includesa'prepared elongated web comprising a web remnant supporting a pluralityof removable labels throughout its operable length. and wherein saidapparatus is of the type which includes means for establishing a tackysurface to labels within the web. reciprocating plunger means at adetaching station for driving through the web when the web issubstantially stationary to detach a label from the web.

and for applying said label to a product. and means at the detachingstation for holding said web remnant stationary during removal of ailabel therefrom, the improvement wherein l a said means forestablishing a. ,tacky surface to labels includes means for applying ahot melt adhesive to label surfaces comprising portions of one side ofsaid web, and I I wherein said means for holding said web remnantstationary includes heated web engaging means for engaging said one sideof-the web adjacent the label surfaces to which hot melt adhesivev hasbeen applied in order to resist accumulation of said hot melt adhesiveon said holding means.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said heated web engaging meanscomprises a clamp having a plurality of heated finger means for engagingsaid web.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein e ach of said finger means includes aweb engaging end of relatively narow cross-section with respect to aremainder of the finger means, and including means for supplying anelectrical current to ssaid finger means for heating the ends thereof.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said ends of said finger meanssurround a label to be detached from said web.

5. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said finger means comprise acontinuous electrically conductive member having electrical terminals ateach end thereof.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for applying a hot meltadhesive to label surfaces includes means for applying said adhesive toportions of said label surfaces, and wherein said heated web engagingmeans are disposed to engage said web near said adhesive portions, andfurther including non-heated clamping means for engaging said webadjacent non-adhesive portions of said labels.

7. Apparatus for applying labels including means for establishing atacky surface on labels within a label carrying web,

reciprocating plunger means at a detaching station for engaging andpassing through the plane of the web to detach a label from the web, and

means at said detaching station for holding said web adjacent a labelduring detachment of a label from the web,

wherein said means for establishing a tacky surface includes means forapplying a hot melt adhesive to label surfaces comprising portions ofone side of said web and wherein said means for holding said webcomprises a heated web engaging and clamping means for engaging said oneside of said web adjacent said label surfaces and for clamping said webagainst opposite supporting surfaces of said holding means, said heatedweb engaging and clamping means resisting accumulation of adhesivethereon.

8. Apparatus for applying labels including a label supply comprising alabel carrying web, means for applying a hot melt adhesive to saidlabels at one station, reciprocating plunger means for engaging andpassing through the plane of said web to detach a label therefrom atanother subsequent station, and clamping means for holding said webstationary during detachment of a label therefrom, said clamping meansincluding heated web engaging fingers having ends defining incombination approximate label shapes.

9. Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said heated web engaging fingers arepositioned to engage the web adjacent surfaces of the label to which hotmelt adhesive has been applied.

.10. Apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said hot melt adhesive overlapsthe labels onto the web adjacent the labels and said fingers engage saidoverlapping adhesive but resist accumulation of adhesive thereon.

11. Apparatus for clamping a web having hot melt adhesive applied to oneside thereof, and for removing an adhesive portion of the web when theweb is clamped, said apparatus including means for supporting anon-adhesive side of said web and clamping means for engaging said oneadhesive side of said web and for holding said web stationary againstsaid supporting means,

said clamping means including a plurality of web engaging fingers havingheated tips for resisting accumulations of adhesive thereon,

a plunger mounted for movement through the plane of the web and betweensaid fingers for detaching a portion of said web to which adhesive isapplied, and

said plunger having a predetermined shape and said fingers and heatedtips being disposed around an area corresponding to the shape of theplunger to permit the plunger to pass therebetween while said web isclamped.

12. Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said web comprises a web remnantdefining partially precut labels supported therein each label having atleast portions covered by said adhesive, and wherein said fingers aredisposed about an area corresponding to the shape of a label.

13. Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said clamping means hold said webremnant stationary during removal of a label therefrom.

14. Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said clamping means furtherincludes non-heated web engaging means for engaging said one adhesiveside of said web adjacent non-adhesive portions of said labels.

15. A method for clamping a tacky web between spaced web engaging meanson opposite sides of the web, wherein the web comprises a non-adhesiveside and a hot melt adhesive at a predetermined temperature on portionsof an adhesive side thereof, and further comprises a web remnantsupporting a plurality of labels therein, said hot melt adhesivecovering at least portions of label surfaces on said adhesive side, themethod comprising:

heating the web engaging means on the adhesive side of said web to atemperature approximately equal to said predetermined temperature toresist the accumulation of adhesive thereon, and

clamping said web between said spaced web engaging means, the heated webengaging means contacting said adhesive side of said web, in areas ofsaid web remnant adjacent a label, to permit the label to be removedfrom the web while the web is clamped.

16. A method as in claim 15 wherein the hot melt adhesive overlaps saidlabel surfaces onto said web remnant and wherein the clamping stepincludes engaging the adhesive on the web remnant with said heated webengaging means.

17. A method of clamping a web between spaced clamping means on oppositesides of the web, wherein the web comprises a non-adhesive side and anadhesive side to which a hot melt adhesive at a predeterminedtemperature has been applied. said hot melt adhesive covering at leastportions of said web. the method comprising:

heating the clamping means on the adhesive side of said web to atemperature approximately' equal to said predetermined temperature toresist the accumulation of adhesive thereon clamping said web betweenthe heated clamping means on the adhesive side of the web. and theclamping means on the non-adhesive side of the web. said heated clampingmeans comprising a plurality of web engaging fingers having heated tips.and said clamping including engaging'said adhesive side of said web withsaid heated tips. 18. A method as in claim 17 wherein said web iselongated and comprises a web remnant defining partially precut labelssupported therein. each label having at least portions covered by saidadhesive and wherein the heated tips of web engaging fingers aredisposed around an area corresponding to the shape of a label. saidclamping including.

engaging said web remnant around said labels with said heated tips.

19. A method as in claim 18 wherein said heated tips engage said webremnant to hold said remnant stationary against the clamping means onthe non-adhesive side of the web. said heated tips resisting adhesiveaccumulation thereon.

20. A method as in claim 17 wherein portions of the clamping means onthe adhesive side of the web are not heated, said clamping including,

engaging the adhesive side of the web, in areas to which no adhesive hasbeen applied. with said nonheated portions of the clamping means.

PAHNI NH. 3 8 0 IJAIII) April 29, 1975 Column 1, line 35, a" should be-as.

Column 4 line 39, "a" should be tho.

Column 7, line 66, "340+F" should be 34 0I.--.

Column 9, .I..i n(.- 1.8, "narow" should be -narrow.

Column .9, 1. i no 21, "ssuid" should be su i4d.

Signed and Scaled this RUTH MASON MARSHALI "ANN lln'umg /Ill'l"('nmmnuum" I I I'd/run 41ml Inn/mum!

1. APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LABELS OF VARYING SHAPES AND SIZES FROM APREPARED LABEL SUPPLY TO A PRODUCT WHEREIN THE LABEL SUPPLY INCLUDES APREPARED ELONGATED WEB COMPRISING A WEB REMMANT SUPPORTING A PLURALITYOF REMOVABLE LABELS THROUGH OUT ITS OPERABLE LENGHT, AND WHEREIN SAIDAPPARATUS IS OF THE TYPE WHICH INCLUDES MEANS FOR ESTABLISHING A TACKYSURFACE TO LABELS WITHIN THE WEB, RECIPROCATING PLUNGER MEANS AT ADETACHING STATION FOR DRIVING THROUGH THE WEB WHEN THE WEB ISSUBSTANTIALLY STATIONARY TO DETACH A LABEL FROM THE WEB, AND FORAPPLYING SAID LABEL TO A PRODUCT, AND MEANS AT THE DETACHING STATION FORHOLDING SAID WEB REMNANT STATIONARY DURING REMOVAL OF A LABEL THEREFROM,THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN SAID MEANS FOR ESTABILISHING A TACKY SURFACE TOLABELS INCLUDES MEANS FOR APPLYING A HOT MELT ADHESIVE TO LABEL SURFACESCOMPRISING PORTIONS OF ONE SIDE OF SAID WEB, AND WHEREIN SAID MEANS FORHOLDING SAID WEB REMNANT STATIONARY INCLUDES HEATED WEB ENGAGING MEANSFOR ENGAGING SAID ONE SIDE OF THE WEB ADJACENT THE LABEL SURFACES TOWHICH HOT MELT ADHESIVE HAS BEEN APPLIED IN ORDER TO RESIST ACCUMULATIONOF SAID HOT MELT ADHESIVE ON SAID HOLDING MEANS.
 2. Apparatus as inclaim 1 wherein said heated web engaging means comprises a clamp havinga plurality of heated finger means for engaging said web.
 3. Apparatusas in claim 2 wherein each of said finger means includes a web engagingend of relatively narow cross-section with respect to a remainder of thefinger means, and including means for supplying an electrical current tossaid finger means for heating the ends thereof.
 4. Apparatus as inclaim 3 wherein said ends of said finger means surround a label to bedetached from said web.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said fingermeans comprise a continuous electrically conductive member havingelectrical terminals at each end thereof.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 1wherein said means for applying a hot melt adhesive to label surfacesincludes means for applying said adhesive to portions of said labelsurfaces, and wherein said heated web engaging means are disposed toengage said web near said adhesive portions, and further includingnon-heated clamping means for engaging said web adjacent non-adhesiveportions of said labels.
 7. Apparatus for applying labels includingmeans for establishing a tacky surface on labels within a label carryingweb, reciprocating plunger means at a detaching station for engaging andpassing through the plane of the web to detach a label from the web, andmeans at said detaching station for holding said web adjacent a labelduring detachment of a label from the web, wherein said means forestablishing a tacky surface includes means for applying a hot meltadhesive to label surfaces comprising portions of one side of said weband wherein said means for holding said web comprises a heated webengaging and clamping means for engaging said one side of said webadjacent said label surfaces and for clamping said web against oppositesupporting surfaces of said holding means, said heated web engaging andclamping means resisting accumulation of adhesive thereon.
 8. Apparatusfor applying labels including a label supply comprising a label carryingweb, means for applying a hot melt adhesive to said labels at onestatiOn, reciprocating plunger means for engaging and passing throughthe plane of said web to detach a label therefrom at another subsequentstation, and clamping means for holding said web stationary duringdetachment of a label therefrom, said clamping means including heatedweb engaging fingers having ends defining in combination approximatelabel shapes.
 9. Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said heated webengaging fingers are positioned to engage the web adjacent surfaces ofthe label to which hot melt adhesive has been applied.
 10. Apparatus asin claim 9, wherein said hot melt adhesive overlaps the labels onto theweb adjacent the labels and said fingers engage said overlappingadhesive but resist accumulation of adhesive thereon.
 11. Apparatus forclamping a web having hot melt adhesive applied to one side thereof, andfor removing an adhesive portion of the web when the web is clamped,said apparatus including means for supporting a non-adhesive side ofsaid web and clamping means for engaging said one adhesive side of saidweb and for holding said web stationary against said supporting means,said clamping means including a plurality of web engaging fingers havingheated tips for resisting accumulations of adhesive thereon, a plungermounted for movement through the plane of the web and between saidfingers for detaching a portion of said web to which adhesive isapplied, and said plunger having a predetermined shape and said fingersand heated tips being disposed around an area corresponding to the shapeof the plunger to permit the plunger to pass therebetween while said webis clamped.
 12. Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said web comprises aweb remnant defining partially precut labels supported therein eachlabel having at least portions covered by said adhesive, and whereinsaid fingers are disposed about an area corresponding to the shape of alabel.
 13. Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said clamping means holdsaid web remnant stationary during removal of a label therefrom. 14.Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said clamping means further includesnon-heated web engaging means for engaging said one adhesive side ofsaid web adjacent non-adhesive portions of said labels.
 15. A method forclamping a tacky web between spaced web engaging means on opposite sidesof the web, wherein the web comprises a non-adhesive side and a hot meltadhesive at a predetermined temperature on portions of an adhesive sidethereof, and further comprises a web remnant supporting a plurality oflabels therein, said hot melt adhesive covering at least portions oflabel surfaces on said adhesive side, the method comprising: heating theweb engaging means on the adhesive side of said web to a temperatureapproximately equal to said predetermined temperature to resist theaccumulation of adhesive thereon, and clamping said web between saidspaced web engaging means, the heated web engaging means contacting saidadhesive side of said web, in areas of said web remnant adjacent alabel, to permit the label to be removed from the web while the web isclamped.
 16. A method as in claim 15 wherein the hot melt adhesiveoverlaps said label surfaces onto said web remnant and wherein theclamping step includes engaging the adhesive on the web remnant withsaid heated web engaging means.
 17. A method of clamping a web betweenspaced clamping means on opposite sides of the web, wherein the webcomprises a non-adhesive side and an adhesive side to which a hot meltadhesive at a predetermined temperature has been applied, said hot meltadhesive covering at least portions of said web, the method comprising:heating the clamping means on the adhesive side of said web to atemperature approximately equal to said predetermined temperature toresist the accumulation of adhesive thereon, clamping said web betweenthe heated clamping means on the adhesive side of the web, and theclamping means on the non-adhesive side of the web, said heated clampingmeans comprising a plurality of web engaging fingers having heated tips,and said clamping including engaging said adhesive side of said web withsaid heated tips.
 18. A method as in claim 17 wherein said web iselongated and comprises a web remnant defining partially precut labelssupported therein, each label having at least portions covered by saidadhesive and wherein the heated tips of web engaging fingers aredisposed around an area corresponding to the shape of a label, saidclamping including, engaging said web remnant around said labels withsaid heated tips.
 19. A method as in claim 18 wherein said heated tipsengage said web remnant to hold said remnant stationary against theclamping means on the non-adhesive side of the web, said heated tipsresisting adhesive accumulation thereon.
 20. A method as in claim 17wherein portions of the clamping means on the adhesive side of the webare not heated, said clamping including, engaging the adhesive side ofthe web, in areas to which no adhesive has been applied, with saidnon-heated portions of the clamping means.